Lynk & Co confirms electrified models exclusively for Europe

Lynk & Co – the Chinese brand owned by parent company Geely – has revealed a plug-in hybrid variant of its 01 crossover at the Beijing Motor Show, while outlining an electrification plan it calls the ‘New Energy Strategy’.

With the firm sizing up a two-strong line-up for Europe comprising of the flagship 01 and the smaller, sportier 02 – a Mercedes GLA rivalling crossover – Lynk & Co has revealed that its European offerings will consist solely of electrified models.

According to Lynk & Co senior vice president Alain Visser, it has always been in the firm’s strategy to offer only electrified powertrains in Europe.

“There will be no diesel, no manual and no ICE Lynk & Co derivatives in Europe. When we commence production in 2019, and sales starting from 2020, in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels and London, our range will be all about new energy”.

Geely vice president Mats Fagerhag explained the rollout, revealing: “The new energy plan for Lynk & Co will be implemented in stages with the goal of following PHEV [plug-in hybrid electric vehicle] with HEV [hybrid electric vehicle] and then BEV [battery electric vehicle].

Both the 01 and 02 models use the same CMA platform used on the new Volvo XC40, which supports full electrification. The firm’s plug-in hybrid powertrains will mate an electric motor and battery system to a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, while economy figures for the 01 PHEV are quoted as 166mpg and up to 31 miles of drive on electric power only.

While the firm’s entire line-up will be battery assisted or powered in Europe, Lynk & Co will sell conventionally powered petrol-only models in China.